Some folks complain that the Minutemen and other similar groups are vigilantes. I think they are wrong, especially since those doing the criticizing are opposed to any effort to control immigration and secure our borders.

Well, Congressman John Culbertson has a solution to that problem -- he wants to permit states to establish Border Militias to help enforce the nation's immigration laws.

Adding an unusual proposal to the searing debate over illegal immigration, U.S. Rep. John Culberson of Houston introduced a bill late Thursday to let Texas and other border states establish armed militias to catch people trying to illegally cross from Mexico and Canada.
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The bill, which he called a "thunderclap," is more than a solitary, symbolic gesture by the Republican lawmaker: It has 46 Republican co-sponsors.

It comes as the White House, Congress and local officials are becoming increasingly immersed in efforts to find the best way to secure the borders and perhaps also establish a "guest worker" program to let immigrants stay in the United States as temporary legal residents.

Gov. Rick Perry indicated he is open to Culberson's idea.

"Illegal immigration has become a pervasive problem in this country, and it is a drain on our economy," Perry said. "Regardless of the mechanism, the federal government must provide a stronger presence along the border and must provide substantially more funding for border protection."

Among Culberson's co-sponsors are 10 Texans, including freshmen Reps. Ted Poe of Humble and Michael McCaul of Austin.

The measure's stated goal is to let governors create a Border Protection Corps of citizens to shield the country from "uniquely devious, criminal, cowardly and fanatically determined" terrorist organizations.

Culberson said the militia provisions in the Constitution must be invoked because the U.S. Border Patrol lacks the resources to deal with any surge in illegal crossings by people who may have ties to terrorist groups.

"The tools are all there in the Constitution," Culberson said. "America's best defense against terrorists trying to sneak into our country is to trust the good hearts and the good sense of American citizens."

This sounds like an excellent way of meeting the criticisms offered against the Minutemen. They will be trained, regulated, and officially deputized for the task for which they organized. They will be able to do more than merely take pictures and make phone calls -- they will be authorized to take action and actually stop the immigration criminals. And they will provide needed relief for the under-staffed Border Patrol.

Good for John Culbertson, and his 46 co-sponsors. Call your congressman and encourage him to join as a co-sponsor.

Posted by: Greg at 04:42 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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